The Metropolis Council debated a decision Monday that will transition town from an in-house monetary accounting and payroll software program to a brand new cloud-based software program.
Main Eddie Sundquist and his administration have requested the Metropolis Council to approve $91,683.50 within the American Rescue Plan Act Monitoring and Transparency funding for the implementation of Springbrook Software program’s monetary accounting and payroll system.
“The Springbrook software program is a brand new software program that we will attempt to implement,” John Sellstrom, metropolis comptroller, stated. “With the system proper now, it isn’t very straightforward to make use of. It isn’t the very best system.”
Sellstrom stated the brand new software program will save town a big period of time inputting payroll knowledge because of the on-line login portal that every metropolis worker will obtain.
Whereas metropolis officers linked the brand new software program as a helpful improve for town, the Metropolis Council members raised some key questions and considerations.
“I do have some very important questions on this,” Kim Eclund, R-At Giant, stated.
“Did we ship out a number of bids or did we simply choose and select? Has Info Know-how reviewed this, and are we going to wish further upgrades to folks’s computer systems? I wish to make it possible for we’re protecting each base with a complete change to an Enterprise Useful resource Planning that is cloud-based from what we’ve now.”
Mayor Eddie Sundquist defined Springbrook bought KBS, town’s present system, a number of years in the past.
Because of expiring updates via the present system, the administration believed it might be the simplest to change to Springbrook’s software program, since they already personal and repair the present KBS system town has been utilizing.
“Since Springbrook already providers our software program, they appeared to be the suitable option to convert the information into their system,” he stated. “It might transfer us from the in-house server to the cloud-based platform.”
Though town thought of different ERP applications, Sundquist stated Springbrook Software program “made essentially the most sense,” because the metropolis is already accustomed to the corporate.
At present, town pays about $17,000 per 12 months for the KBS software program, which Sellstrom stated is akin to the roughly $19,000 per 12 months that Springbrook will cost for its cloud-based software program.
Regardless of having a number of questions answered by metropolis officers, Eclund confused the significance of getting knowledgeable IT particular person current info regarding the proposed new software program to the Metropolis Council.
“My large concern is that if IT will not be concerned, I would love the enter of them, as a result of as many people know, with an ERP system, there’s all the time upgrades to issues that may have been missed on this,” she stated. “With cloud-based, comes some further safety stuff. I’ve some sturdy considerations with safety and important info being on the market.”
Councilwoman Marie Carrubba, D-Ward 4, requested for town administration to additionally present the council with info from different cities which have switched to the brand new software program.
“We’ll discover ones that did the conversion,” Sundquist stated.
The Metropolis Council is anticipated to debate the proposal with town’s head IT particular person subsequent week previous to the council’s voting session.